Azerbaijan, Armenia to focus on Basis Principles of conflict’s resolution: U.S. co-chair

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for South Caucasus and Central Asia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza on April 15, AzerTaj state news agency reported.

The President and U.S. Co-Chair exchanged views on the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We agreed that our focus is on finalizing the Basic Principles the OSCE Minsk Group has been elaborating with the parties," Bryza told Trend News.

He said the meeting was constructive and friendly.

"We discussed our joint efforts within the Minsk group to resolve the few key remaining differences on the Basic Principles, which would outline a just and balanced settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement that involves return of territories and displaced persons, a sense of security for all residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and the other territories, restored transit links and international guarantees," Bryza said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

/Trend News/